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Module 3

Wildlife Detecting: biosecurity edition - search for evidence of local wildlife

Animals often like to hide from us humans. So, now's the chance for your class to use their best detecting skills! Get outside and start searching for evidence of the wildlife that lives around us. This could be anything from tracks and animal poo, to nests and spider webs. This activity can be linked to learning about habitats, biodiversity and food chains. For more biosecurity focus, you can do this on a beach or near a seabird colony, looking especially for mammals and birds. You could even have a go at making your own rodent detection box.

Module 3

Wildlife Detecting: biosecurity edition - search for evidence of local wildlife

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Are you doing this activity as part of your Wild Challenge? Take a look at your progress and go for gold!

This activity supports the following subject: Science.

Print instructions in Welsh Print instructions in Gaelic

Step 1

What do I need?

  1. You might want equipment like a magnifying glass to enlarge the wildlife clues that you find.
  2. Paper and pens/pencils or camera to record what you find.
  3. You could make your own rat/mouse detection box with tasty chocolate wax and check to see if a rat or mouse has taken a nibble on this tasty treat! Here is the recipe.
  4. You could make an animal footprint tracker to find out what’s been in your grounds whilst you were asleep.
  5. You could use the RSPB Spot It sheets to help you identify other tracks and signs of wildlife.

Step 2

What do I do?

  • Find a suitable area you want to explore.
  • Use all of your detecting skills to hunt for signs that wildlife has been there e.g., spider webs, poo, footprints, bird feathers. Use ID guides to help you identify what you find.
  • Draw or photograph what you find.
  • Try to make sense of what you find. Use your learnings from science topics such as habitats, biodiversity and food chains to help you.
  • Don't forget to tell RSPB when you have completed the activity! When you mark the activity as complete, you will be asked to upload a photo, drawing, painting or a piece of writing talking about your experience to help earn your RSPB Wild Challenge Award

Step 3

Completing the activity

Use the 'Mark as complete' button at the top of your RSPB account page to tell us you've completed your activity. You'll need to show us what you did by uploading a photo, a drawing or some writing showing what you found.

Step 4

Get them thinking

Here are some prompts to help with learning:

  • Before you start, what kind of signs do you think you will look out for?
  • How will you identify a food chain in action?
  • When you are investigating the biodiversity of an area, do you need to actually see an animal to know it lives or visits there?

Completed an activity? Share your picture using #wildchallenge

Module 3

Digital Board Game Food or Foe Game - Snakes and ladders with a twist! (30mins)

Optional
Module 3

Board Game Save our Seabirds Board Game (60mins)

Optional

All modules

Module 1

Introduction

An introduction to biosecurity and why it matters. Includes outdoor games

Module 2

Immersion

Researching seabirds including tasks, model building and games

Module 3

Solutions

How to help seabirds including games, treasure hunts and identifying tracks

Module 4

Design

Setting a design challenge and biodiversity action planning

Module 5

Refine

Groups present and evaluate ideas including news-reading, games and writing

Module 6

Share

Spreading the word including stories, map activity and games

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